What happens to a sleepy, Texas town when technological advances in oil extraction transform it into the epicenter of an oil boom? To find out, I sat down with freelance writer Alex Hannaford to discuss his most recent Observer article, “A ‘Black Gold’ Rush in Cotulla.” Find out what lengths Pizza Hut will go to in order to serve a hungry army of oil workers. Hear why Cotulla’s roughest natives won’t head to local watering holes after dark anymore.